Credit card cleaning system

ABSTRACT

The disclosed machine has a housing with a washing component and a drying compartment. The housing has a credit card receiving slot which opens into the washing compartment. The washing compartment is filled with a cleaning solution to just below the level of the receiving slot. A receiving platform is provided which is inclined downwardly below the surface of the cleaning solution where a pair of feed rollers pass the card through a pair of scrubbing rollers and onto a pair of squeegee rollers and a pair of drying rollers. The scrubbing rollers are below the level of the cleaning solution and so rotate as to wipe the card surfaces in a direction opposite its direction of travel. The squeegee rollers and drying rollers are in the drying compartment separated from the reservoir of cleaning solution and the drying rollers have heating elements which maintain them at a predetermined temperature.

United States Patent [191 Green [45] Apr.2,1974

[ CREDIT CARD CLEANING SYSTEM [76] Inventor: Parrish 0. Green, 21-4Burchfield St., Bakersfield, Calif. 93307 22 Filed: Apr. 28, 1972 21Appl. No.: 248,599

[52] US. Cl..... 15/4, 15/102 [51] Int. Cl. B08b 1/02 [58] Field ofSearch 15/4, 102, 77, 104.92, 15/ 100 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,440,675 4/1969 Yeaman 15/4 3,694,071 9/1972 Touchette15/77 3,428,988 2/1969 Blackbum..... 15/104.92' 3,237,231 3/1966 Zink15/102 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 509,785 10/1930 Germany 15/77Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin [57] ABSTRACT The disclosed machine hasa housing with a washing component and a drying compartment. The housinghas a credit card receiving slot which opens into the washingcompartment. The washing compartment is filled with a cleaning solutionto just below the level of the receiving slot. A receiving platform isprovided which is inclineddownwardly below the surface of the cleaningsolution where a pair of feed rollers pass the card through a pair ofscrubbing rollers and onto a pair of squeegee rollers and a pair ofdrying rollers. The scrubbing rollers are below the level of thecleaning solution and so rotate as to wipe the card surfaces in adirection opposite its direction of travel. The squeegee rollers anddrying rollers are in the drying compartment separated from thereservoir of cleaning solution and the drying rollers have heatingelements which maintain them at a predetermined temperature.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUAPR 2:914 3800 M9 SHEU 2 0F 3 I 1CREDIT CARD CLEANING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to cleaning machines and more particularly to machinesfor cleaning relatively rigid cards of plastic material.

The use of credit cards has now become of such importance that fewpurchasers are without one or more of them. Frequently the credit cardsare carried in pockets, purses, or wallets where they accumulate dirt.Not only does this give an unpleasing appearance to the card, but italso interfers to some extent with the cards effective functioning inimprinting of the name and card number on the printed charge forms.

Although credit cards can be cleaned by hand, this is inconvenient and,therefore, infrequently done. A need, therefore, exists for a simple buteffective credit card cleaning machine.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION vide a credit card cleaning machine whichrapidly washes and drys a credit card.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide a credit cardcleaning machine which will clean a card automatically by merelyinserting the card in a receiving slot and pressing a button.

It is another object of my invention to provide a credit card cleaningmachine of the type described in which both surfaces ofthe card aresimultaneously scrubbed while it is submerged in cleaning solution andthen wipes off the cleaning solution and drys the card.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a credit cardcleaning machine of the type described in which the credit card iscarried down into a reservoir of cleaning solution for washing and upout of the reservoir for drying and the drying rollers which areinternally heated to a predetermined temperature by thermostaticcontrol.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide a credit cardcleaning machine of the type described that is compact, convenient touse, and easy to maintain.

DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantages of my invention willbecomemore readily apparent from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment when read together with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

F IG. 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the preferred embodimentof my invention taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevational view taken on line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional end elevational view taken on line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional end elevational view taken on line 66 in FIG. 4;and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the electrical circuitry for heating mydrying rollers.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PARTS Referring now to the drawings, andparticularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the numeral 10 refers generally to mycredit card cleaning machine. The machine consists of a housing 12 whichis internally divided by a partition 14 into a washing compartment 16and a drying compartment 18. The partition 14 extends upwardly for aportion of the height of the housing a sufficient distance to form areservoir 20 of cleaning solution in the washing compartment 16 andscreen the drying compartment from solution splash.

A card receiving slot 22 is provided in the receiving end of the housingadjacent the washing compartment 16. The receiving slot 22 is wideenough to receive the width of a credit card and is located in the endwall of the housing 12 just above the level of the cleaning solution inthe reservoir 20. A facing plate 23 is provided on the housing walloutside the receiving slot with a tapered throat 24 to assist ininsertion of the card into the slot.

A receiving platform 26 is mounted just inside the receiving slot 22 inthe washing compartment 16. The receiving platform 26 is pivotallymounted in the housing at its inner end 28 and has a shute 30 forsupporting a card delivered through the receiving slot, and a flange 32for blocking the receiving slot 22. The flange 32 is mounted on theouter end of the receiving platform 26 and swings downward to block thereceiving slot 22 when the platform pivots downwardly about itsmounting. The receiving platform 26 is disposed with its shute 30inclined downwardly so that its inner end 28 is below the surface of thecleaning solution in the reservoir 20 of washing compartment 16, and afloat 34, preferably of plastic foam, is attached to the bottom of theshute 30 near its outer end 31 which floats on cleaning solution in thewashing compartment reservoir 20 to urge the outer end of the receivingplatform into its upper position (see FIG. 4). The shute 30 is taperedin height and width to further align the card as it travels through theshute. I

Adjacent the inner end 28 of the receiving platform 26, I provide a pairof co-acting feed rollers 38 located one above the other on shafts 39which are journaled in the wall of the housing 12 and disposedsubstantially normal to the path of travelof the card through thehousing. For each of description, this path of travel of the card willbe referred to as starting at the forward end of the housing 12 (wherethe card receiving slot 22 is located) and proceeding rearwardly to therear end of the housing (opposite the end having the card receivingslot). Thus, those things which are positioned closer to the forward endof the housing will be referred to as forward, or in front of; thoseitems which are closer the rear, as rearward.

The pair of feed rollers 38 consist of an upper roller 40 and a lowerroller 42. The lower roller 42 has a cylindrical firm rubber periphery44 which extends the full length of the roller and is driven by a drivemotor through appropriate gearing, more fully described later. The upperroller 40 also has a periphery 46 formed of hard rubber, and its. shaft39 is bearing mounted in the housing but is free turning. The bearingsfor the upper shaft are movable and spring loaded toward the lowerroller shaft by bearing springs 47. Thus mounted, the shafts 39 of therollers are sufficiently close that the periphery 46 on the upper rolleris frictionally engaged by the periphery 44 of the lower roller and sothat the upper roller is caused to rotate when the lower roller rotates.

Since the shaft 39 of the upper roller 40 is positioned slightly forwardof the lower roller shaft, a plane tangential to the contact between therollers is inclined upwardly and rearwardly (see FIG. 4). Also, thedirection of rotation of the lower roller 42 is counterclockwise (asseen in H6. 4) so that its periphery 44 travels rearwardly at the top ofthe roller. The frictional engagement between periphery 44 of the lowerroller and the periphery 46 on the upper roller drives the peripheryrearwardly at its bottom, thus rotating the upper roller clockwise asseen in FIG. 4. Rotation of the feed rollers 38 in this manner carries acard rearwardly on its path of travel when it is fed between therollers.

To further guide the card along its path, a feed roller guide 49 isdisposed reaward of the feed rollers.

The pivot point 48 for the inner end 28 of the receiving platform 26 isadjacent the periphery 44 of the lower roller 42 and just below thepoint of engagement between the feed rollers so that the leading edge ofa card 50 inserted through the card receiving slot 22 and resting in theshute 30 engages the upper portion of the lower roller periphery 44 andis drawn in between rollers. At this point the trailing edge of the cardclears the card receiving slot 22 and is driven downwardly because thefeed rollers 38 are so aligned as to direct the card along the path oftravel which is inclined .upwardly and rearwardly from the feed rollers,as previously explained. Although the card is supported by the shute 30of the receiving platform 26, force applied to the card by the feedrollers 38 pivots both the card and the receiving platform downwardly tototally submerge the card in the cleaning solution. This downwardpivotal movement of the receiving platform 26 draws the blocking flange32 in front of the receiving slot to prevent another card from beinginserted in the slot while the first card is proceeding through the feedrollers.

When the trailing edge of the card 50 reaches the feed rollers 38, thecard is clear of the shute of the receiving platform 26 and the float 34driven the receiving platform upward again moving the blocking flange 32above the card receiving slot 22 and opening the slot for insertion ofanother card.

A pair of scrubbing rollers 54 are provided just rearward the feedrollers 38. The scrubbing rollers 54 consist of an upper scrubbingroller 56 and a lower scrubbing roller 58, both of which are identicaland have coacting peripheral surfaces which are juxtaposed along atangential line of contact in the inclined plane of the I path of travelof the card. Each of the rollers has a peripheral surface 60, pourousand somewhat roughened, such as a terry cloth or a shaggy snytheticfiber, which retains cleaning solution picked up from the reservoir 20in the washing compartment 16 and scrubs surfaces placed in contact withit. The scrubbing rollers 54 are mounted on shafts 62 which are, inturn, journaled in the housing 12 and substantially normal to saidinclined path of travel. The shafts are also sufficiently close togetherto bring their surfaces 60 into contact, and the shaft 62 of the upperscrubbing roller 56 is positioned slightly forward of the lowerscrubbing roller shaft to align their area of contact with the path oftravel as aforesaid. Also. the shafts 62 are so positioned that the areaof contact between the scrubbing rollers is at or just below the surfaceof cleaning solution in the reservoir 20 so the roller surfaces arecontinuously saturated with the solution.

The shafts 62 of both the upper and lower scrubbing rollers are drivenby a drive motor 63 through appropriate gearing, as will be laterexplained. The upper scrubbing roller 56 turns counter-clockwise, asviewed in FIG. 4, and the lower scrubbing roller turns clockwise, asviewed in FIG. 4, so that the co-acting surfaces of the two rollers aremoving in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the card atthe point where the card passes between them. The shafts 62 of each ofthe scrubbing rollers each rotates at the same speed, however, thisspeed is substantially greater than the speed of rotation of the feedrollers 38.

The surfaces 60 of the scrubbing rollers thus wipe across both surfacesof the card 50 for many revolutions as it passes between the rollers,thoroughly scrubbing them.

Rearward of the scrubbing rollers 54, a pair of squeegee rollers 64 areprovided, and a scrubbing roller guide 65 is disposed between the pairsof rollers. The squeegee rollers 64 are mounted one above the other onshafts 66 journaled journaled in the housing 12, like the feed rollers38. The squeegee rollers also consist of an upper squeegee roller 68,the shaft of which is mounted above and slightly forward of the shaft ofthe lower squeegee roller 70. Again, the shafts 66 of the squeegeerollers 64 are substantially normal to the inclined plane containing thepath of travel of the card and the rollers coacting surfaces betweenwhich the card 50 passes. The coacting surfaces travel in the samedirection as the card 50 and at approximately the same speed as the feedrollers 38 and are sufficently close to grip and pass the cardtherebetween. The peripheries of the squeegee rollers 64 are cylindersformed of a firm rubber material which squeezes the cleaning solutionfrom both sides of the card as the card passes through the rollers.

The squeeqee rollers 64 are so positioned with respect to the feedrollers 38 that the leading edge 48 of the card 50 is engaged by thecoacting surfaces of the squeegee rollers, before the trailing edge 52of the card has left the feed rollers. Since the scrubbing rollers 54are positioned between the feed rollers 38 and the squeegee rollers 64along the path of the travel of the card, the card 50 is held and movedalong its path of travel by either the feed rollers 38 or the squeegeerollers 64, or both, at all times when its surfaces are exposed to thescrubbing action of the scrubbing rollers 54.

The upper squeegee roller 68 is driven by a drive motor throughappropriate gears, as will be later explained, and the lower squeegeeroller 70 is driven by frictional engagement of its peripheral surfacewith the upper squeegee roller. The frictional engagement is maintainedby bearing springs 73 which urge the lower squeegee roller shaft towardthe upper squeegee roller shaft in the same manner as in the feedrollers 38.

The squeegee rollers are located in the drying compartment 18 justrearward the partition 14 along the path of travel of the card 50. Sincethe plane of the path of travel is inclined upwardly and rearwardly thecoacting surfaces of the squeegee rollers are above the level ofcleaning solution in the reservoir 20, and a drain pan 74 is provided onthe partition 14 which extends rearwardly into the drying compartment 18under the squeegee rollers. The drain pan 74 is inclined forwardlydownward toward the reservoir 20 of cleaning solution in the washingcompartment 16 and any moisture squeezed out of the squeegee rollers isthereby captured and delivered back into the cleaning solution reservoirin the washing compartment.

Just rearward of the squeegee rollers 64 along the path of travel of thecard 50 are a pair of drying rollers 74. The drying rollers 74 aremounted on shafts 76 journaled in the walls of housing 12 andsubstantially normal to the path of travel, similar to the squeegeerollers. The drying rollers 74 consist of an upper drying roller 78 anda lower drying roller 80 mounted with the shaft of the upper dryingroller forward of the lower drying roller shaft and sufficiently closeto provide an area of contact aligned with the inclined path of travelof the card 50. The drying rollers 74 are larger thanthe squeegeerollers 64 and have soft, absorbant peripheral surfaces 82. The dryingrollers 74 also have hollow bores 84 .in which are disposed electricheating elements 86. The heating elements 86 are supported on thehousing and connected to an electric power source 88 by means ofconnectors 90 and electric bases 92. Thermostatic controls 94 areprovided in the electric circuitry to maintain the drying rollers at apredetermined temperature. The coacting surfaces of the drying rollers74 move in the same direction as the travel of the card 50 and,therefore, engage and move the card along its path of travel as the cardis moved out of the squeegee rollers 64.

The lower drying roller shaft is driven through gearing by the drivemotor 63, and the upper drying roller shaft is freely rotatable butpositioned sufficiently close to the lower drying roller to grip thecard between the rollers.

Aligned with the path of travel of the card 50 and rearward of thedrying rollers 74 in the rear wall of the housing 12, a card dischargeshute 96 is provided. The card discharge shute 96 extends inside thehousing to a point sufficiently close to the rear of the drying rollersthat as the card 50 is passed through the drying rollers 74 a majorportionof the card 50 adjacent its leading edge passes onto the carddischarge shute before the trailing edge of the card has left the dryingrollers. Therefore, when the trailing edge of the card is released bythe drying rollers, the card will pass onto the card discharge shutewhere it will remain until manually removed.

To drive the various pairs of rollers in my machine in the requireddirections, I provide in addition to the electric drive .motor 63, drivegearing 100. The drive motor 63 is powered from the 1 volt electricpower source 88 through a circuit breaker 102. The drive gearing 100consists ofa drive pinion 1 06 mounted on the shaft of the motor 63 onthe left side of the machine 10 looking in the direction of travel ofthe card 50 (see FIG. 2). The drive pinion 106 rotates clockwise as seenin FIG. 2. The drive pinion 106 is engaged with the upper scrubbingroller pinion 108 which is mounted on the upper scrubber roller shaft62. The upper scrubbing roller pinion 108 is, in turn, engaged with alower scrubbing roller pinion 110 mounted on the lower scrubbing rollershaft 62. Since the drive pinion 106 rotates clockwise, the upperscrubbing roller pinion 108 rotates counter-clockwise, and the lowerscrubbing roller pinion 110 rotates clockwise again, the desireddirection of rotation is thus applied to the shafts upon which they aremounted. A feed roller transfer gear 112 is mounted on the lowerscrubbing roller shaft 62 adjacent the lower scrubbing roller pinion andis engaged with a lower feed roller pinion 114 mounted on the lower feedroller shaft 39. The engagement between the feed roller transfer gear112 and the lower feed roller pinion 114 is such that the clockwiserotation of the lower scrubbing roller shaft 62 causes counter-clockwiserotation of the lower feed roller shaft 39. No drive gear is provided onthe upper drive roller since this roller is driven by frictional surfacecontact with the lower feed roller as previously explained.

A squeegee transfer gear 118 is also provided on the end of the upperscrubbing roller shaft 62 which drives the upper squeegee roller gear120 on the upper squeegee roller shaft 66 in a clockwise direction.Since the upper squeegee roller 68 has its surface in frictionalengagement with the surface of the lower squeegee roller 70, the lowersqueegee roller is caused to turn counterclockwise. The upper squeegeeroller shaft 66 also has 'a dryer drive transfer gear 122 on its endwhich engages and drives the lower drying roller shaft 76 through a.lower drying roller pinion 124 in acounter-clockwise direction. Thesurface of lower drying roller 80 is engaged with the surface of theupper roller gear 78 and it is thus driven in a clockwise direction (allas seen in FIG. 2). Thus, all of the driven rollers in my machine arepowered from a single drive motor through the gearing described.

The speed differential between the scrubbing rollers on the otherrollers, previously described, is provided by selecting gears of theproper size, as shown in FIG. 2.

OPERATION Having described the parts of my card cleaning machine, I willnow describe its operation. The machine is operated by inserting acredit card into the throat 24 of card receiving slot 22 longwise. Thecard is manually inserted to the point where its leading or inner edgecontacts the feed rollers 38 at the inner end 28 of the receivingplatform 26.

At this point the actuating button 104 is operated to start the rollersand the lead edge of the card is gripped by the feed rollers and drawninwardly. Because of the vertically offset alignment of the feedrollers, the card will be swung pivotally downward to align itself withthe upwardly, rearwardly inclined path of travel defined by theco-acting surfaces of the feed rollers. Since the feed rollers are soarranged that the path of travel will be aligned upwardly into thedischarge slot, the card is drawn down into the cleaning solution in thewashing compartment.

Since the card 50 is resting in the shute 30 of the receiving platform,the receiving platform is also pivoted downward into the cleaningsolution, about its inner end 28. The flange 32 on the outer end of thereceiving platform is thus brought down to block the card receiving slot22 and prevent further credit cards from being inserted into the slotuntil the card inside the housing has passed through the feed rollers.As the feed rollers 38 continue to travel the card 50 along the upwardlyinclined path toward the card discharge shute 96, the leading edge ofthe card reaches the co-acting surfaces of the scrubbing rollers 54. Atthis point the body of the card is still firmly engaged by and beingmoved between the feed rollers 38. The co-acting surfaces 60 of thescrubbing rollers 54 are traveling in a direction opposite to thedirection of travel of the card 50 and are rotating at a greater speedthan the feed rollers 38. Therefore, a substantial scrubbing actionoccurs between the peripheral surfaces of the scrubbing rollers and theupper and lower surfaces of the card.

As the leading edge of the card passes on through the scrubbing rollersit passes through the partition 14 and into the drying compartment 18where it is engaged by the coacting surfaces 72 of the squeegee rollers64. The leading edge of the card is engaged by the co-acting surfaces ofthe squeegee rollers before the trailing edge of the card has left thefeed rollers, so the reverse scrubbing action of the scrubbing rollersdoes not effect the travel of the card.

The surfaces 72 of the squeegee rollers wipe moisture from the surfacesof the card and continue tomove the card along its path of travel untilthe leading edge passes between the co-acting surfaces of the dryingrollers 74. The drying rollers dry the surfaces of the card while thesqueegee rollers continue to travel the card toward the card dischargeshute 96. When the leading edge of the card is substantially over thedischarge shute, the trailing edge 52 of the card completes its passagethrough the squeegee rollers. At this point the drying rollers 74 haveenough friction and drive power to move the card on through for depositon the card discharge shute into a position where it will rest untilmanually removed.

The operating button is spring biased to its open position so themachine only operates while the operator holds down the button 104. Anytime the operators finger is removed from the button, the machine stops,leaving the card in its particular position on the path of travel.Therefore, the machine is operated by inserting the card and maintaininga finger on the drive button until the card comes out of the dischargeslot and can be retrieved.

The surfaces 72 ofthe squeegee rollers wipe moisture from the surfacesof the card and continue to move the card along its path of travel untilthe leading edge passes between the co-acting surfaces of the dryingrollers 74. The drying rollers dry the surfaces of the card while thesqueegee rollers continue to travel the card toward the card dischargeshute 96. When the leading edge of the card is substantially over thedischarge shute, the trailing edge 52 of the card completes its passagethrough the squeegee rollers. At this point the drying rollers 74 haveenough friction and drive power to move the card on through for depositon the card discharge shute into a position where it will rest untilmanually removed.

To give visual notice that the machine is in operation a signal light104 is provided at the forward end of the housing 12. Signal light 104is connected into the electric circuit as shown in FIG. 7 so that it islighten whenever the operating switch 102 is in the on position.

From this description of the parts and operation of my machine it willbe understood that rapid but thorough cleaning of the card will occur.The speed and contradirection of the scrubbing rollers together with thesubmersion of the card at this point in the path of travel assuresadequate scrubbing of both surfaces of the card, while the squeezerollers and heated drying rollers provide the necessary drying.

The machine is compact, simple to operate, and comparatively inexpensiveto construct, particularly because of the single drive motor and gearingwhich power all rollers.

It should, therefore, be understood that my card cleaning machine isfully capable of achieving the ob- 5 jects and attaining the advantagesheretofore attributed to it.

I claim:

1. A credit card cleaning device comprising:

a frame;

means defining a path of travel for a credit card, said means beingdisposed in said frame and having a card receiving end and a carddischarge end;

a scrubbing chamber mounted in said frame and having a reservoiroperatively associated with said path of travel defining means disposedto contain a cleaning solution to a level sufficient to cover a portionof said path of travel defining means adjacent the card receiving endthereof;

a drying chamber mounted in said frame and separated from said scrubbingchamber, said drying chamber being operatively associated with said pathof travel defining means and disposed adjacent the card discharge endthereof;

propelling means operatively associated with said path of traveldefining means and disposed to engage and propel a credit cardtherealong;

card delivery means operatively associated with said frame and disposedadjacent the card receiving end of said path of travel defining means,said card delivery means being operable to receive a credit card outsidesaid cleaning solution contained in said scrubbing chamber reservoir anddeliver said card into said reservoir cleaning solution and thereceiving end of said path of travel defining means; and drive meansdrivingly interconnected with said propelling means, scrubber and dryer.

2. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 1 in which:

said scrubbing chamber includes scrubbing means operatively associatedwith said path of travel defining means, said scrubbing means beingdisposed to engage and scrub surfaces of a credit card propelled alongsaid path of travel.

3. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 1 in which:

said drying chamber includes drying means operatively associated withsaid path of travel defining means, said drying means being disposed toengage and dry surfaces of a credit card propelled along said path oftravel.

4. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 2 in which:

said drying chamber includes a pair of rollers having their shaftsdisposed parallel and their peripheries tangentially juxtaposed on saidpath of travel, each of said rollers having a moisture absorbent outersurface and an internal heating element.

5. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 3 in which:

said scrubbing means includes a pair of scrubbing rollers having theirshafts disposed parallel and their peripheries tangentially juxtaposedon said path of travel, each of said rollers having a moisture retainingouter surface, said rollers being in liquid communication with saidreservoir of cleaning fluid and disposed to engage surfaces of a creditcard propelled along said path of travel and scrubb said surfaces in adirection opposite the direction of travel of said card.

6. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 1 in which:

said scrubbing chamber includes a pair of scrubbing said drying chamberincludes a pair of rollers having their shafts disposed parallel andtheir peripheries tangentially juxtaposed on said path of travel, eachof said rollers having a moisture absorbent outer surface and aninternal heating element;

10 is urged into alignment with said path of travel by engagement of itsleading edge with said propelling means.

10. A credit card cleaning device as described in 5 claim 7 in which:

said scrubbing chamber includes scrubbing means operatively associatedwith said path of travel defining means, said scrubbing means beingdisposed to engage and scrub surfaces of a credit card propelled alongsaid path of travel.

11. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 7, in which:

said drying chamber includes drying means operatively associated withsaid path of travel defining means, said drying means being disposed toengage and dry surfaces of a credit card propelled along said path oftravel.

12. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 7 in which:

said propelling means includes a pair of feed rollers said card deliverymeans includes a chute pivotally disposed ahead of said scrubbingrollers along said mounted at its inner end adjacent the card receivpath,of travel, said feed rollers having parallel ing end of said path oftravel defining means and in shafts and tangentially juxtaposedperipheries dissaid cleaning solution of said reservoir, and extendposedto engage a credit card therebetween and ing upwardly and forwardlytherefrom with its outpropel it along said path of travel and betweensaid ermost end disposed above the level of said cleanscrubbing rollers,and further includes a pair of ing solution in said reservoir; squeegeerollers disposed after said scrubbing rolsaid scrubbing chamber includesa pair of scrubbing lers and-before said drying rollers along said pathrollers having their shafts disposed parallel and of travel, saidsqueegee rollers having parallel their peripheries tangentiallyjuxtaposed on said shafts andtangentially juxtaposed peripheries dispathof travel, each of said rollers having a moisposed to engage a creditcard therebetween and ture retaining outer-surface, said rollers beingin propelit along said path of travel, and said squeeliquidcommunication with said reservoir of cleangee rollers being separatedfrom liquid communiing fluid and disposed to engage surfaces ofa creditcation with said reservoir of cleaning solution and card propelled alongsaid path of travel and scrub having surfaces which squeegee saidcleaning solusaid surfaces in a direction opposite the direction tionfrom the surfaces of said credit card; and of travel of said card; saiddrive means are drivingly interconnected with said drying chamberincludes a pair of rollers having said scrubbing rollers, dryingrollers, feed rollers their shafts disposed parallel and theirperipheries and squeegee rollers and includes a motor and tangentiallyjuxtaposed on said path of travel, each drive gears. 40 of said rollershaving a moisture absorbent outer 7. A credit card cleaning device asdescribed in claim surface and an internal heating element; 1 in which:

said propelling means includes a pair of feedrollers disposed ahead ofsaid scrubbing rollers along said path of travel, said feed rollershaving parallel shafts and tangentially juxtaposed peripheries disposedto engage a credit card therebetween and propel it along said path oftravel and between said scrubbing rollers, and further includes a pairof squeegee rollers disposed after said scrubbing rollers and beforesaid drying rollers along said path of travel, said squeegee rollershaving parallel shafts and tangentially juxtaposed peripheries disposedto engage a credit card therebetween and 55 propel it along said path of'travel,and said squeegee rollers being separated from liquidcommunisaid, path of travel is linear and inclined upwardly in arearward direction. 7 8. A credit card cleaning device as described inclaim 7 in which: said card delivery means incudes a chute pivotallymounted at its inner end adjacent the card receiving end of said path oftravel defining means and in said cleaning solution of said reservoir,and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom with its outermost enddisposedabove the level of said cleaning solution in said reservoir. 9.A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 7 in which: i

said card delivery means includes a chute pivotally mounted at its innerend adjacent the card receiving end of said path of travel definingmeans and in said cleaning solution of said reservoir, and extendcationwith said reservoir of cleaning solution and having surfaces whichsqueegee said cleaning solution from the surfaces of said credit card;and said drive means are drivingly interconnected with ing upwardly andforwardly therefrom with its outsaid scrubbing rollers, drying rollers,feed rollers ermost end disposed above the level of said cleanandsqueegee rollers and includes a motor and ing solution in saidreservoir, said chute having a drive gears.

float disposed in said cleaning solution and bouyed' 13. A credit cardcleaning device comprising:

up thereby to normally maintain said chute in its an elongated housinghaving a forward end and a upper position, and being pivotal downwardagainst the bouyancy into alignment with said path of travel when acredit card disposed in said chute rearward end; a substantiallyvertical partition mounted in said housing and disposed to divide saidhousing into a scrubbing compartment adjacent said forward end and adrying compartment adjacent said rearward end;

a card receiving slot in the forward end of said housing opening throughsaid housing wall and into said scrubbing chamber;

a reservoir in said scrubbing compartment containing cleaning liquid toa level below that of said card receiving slot;

21 pair of feed rollers mounted in said scrubbing compartment onparallel shafts disposed normal to said card receiving slot, saidrollers having their peripheries tangentially juxtaposed in a planeinclined upwardly in a rearwardly direction and positioned below thelevel of the cleaning liquid in said reser voir;

a pair of scrubbing rollers mounted in said scrubbing compartrearward ofsaid feed rollers a distance less than the length of said card onparallel shafts disposed parallel to said feed roller shafts, saidrollers having their peripheries tangentially juxtaposed in saidinclined plane with said line of juxtaposition below the level of thecleaning liquid in said reservoir;

a pair of squeegee rollers mounted in said drying compartment adjacentsaid scrubbing compartment and rearward of said scrubbing rollers adistance less than the length of said credit card on parallel shaftsdisposed parallel to said feed roller shafts, said rollers having theirperipheries tangentially juxtaposed in said inclined plane with saidline ofjuxtaposition above the level of the cleaning liquid in saidreservoir;

pair of drying rollers mounted in said drying compartment rearward ofsaid squeegee rollers a distance less than the length of said creditcard on parallel shafts disposed parallel to said feed roller shafts,said rollers having their peripheries tangentially juxtaposed in saidinclined plane, and having heating means operatively associatedtherewith;

a card discharge member mounted in said housing rearward of said dryingrollers a distance less than the length of said credit card and adjacentsaid inclined plane, said card discharge member being disposed toreceive and retain a credit card passed through said drying rollers;

a card delivery chute in said scrubbing chamber with its rearward endpivotally mounted adjacent said feed rollers and its forward endextending upwardly and forwardly into alignment with said card receivingslot, said chute having its forward end normally supported adjacent saidslot by a float disposed in said cleaning liquid in said reservoir, andbeing pivotally movable downward into alignment with said inclined planeby forced alignment of a credit card disposed in said slot uponengagement ofits leading edge with said feed rollers; and

a drive motor mounted in said housing; drive interconnection meansdrivingly interconnecting said drive motor with at least one roller ofeach of said pairs of rollers, said drive interconnection means beingdisposed to rotate said pair of scrubbing rollers in an oppositedirection to the direction of rotation of said other pairs of rollers.

14. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 13 in which:

than said other rollers.

1. A credit card cleaning device comprising: a frame; means defining apath of travel for a credit card, said means being disposed in saidframe and having a card receiving end and a card discharge end; ascrubbing chamber mounted in said frame and having a reservoiroperatively associated with said path of travel defining means disposedto contain a cleaning solution to a level sufficient to cover a portionof said path of travel defining means adjacent the card receiving endthereof; a drying chamber mounted in said frame and separated from saidscrubbing chamber, said drying chamber being operatively associated withsaid path of travel defining means and disposed adjacent the carddischarge end thereof; propelling means operatively associated with saidpath of travel defining means and disposed to engage and propel a creditcard therealong; card delivery means operatively associated with saidframe and disposed adjacent the card receiving end of said path oftravel defining means, said card delivery means being operable toreceive a credit card outside said cleaning solution contained in saidscrubbing chamber reservoir and deliver said card into said reservoircleaning solution and the receiving end of said path of travel definingmeans; and drive means drivingly interconnected with said propellingmeans, scrubber and dryer.
 2. A credit card cleaning device as describedin claim 1 in which: said scrubbing chamber includes scrubbing meansoperatively associated with said path of travel defining means, saidscrubbing means being disposed to engage and scrub surfaces of a creditcard propelled along said path of travel.
 3. A credit card cleaningdevice as described in claim 1 in which: said drying chamber includesdrying means operatively associated with said path of travel definingmeans, said drying means being disposed to engage and dry surfaces of acredit card propelled along said path of travel.
 4. A credit cardcleaning device as described in claim 2 in which: said drying chamberincludes a pair of rollers having their shafts disposed parallel andtheir peripheries tangentially juxtaposed on said path of travel, eachof said rollers having a moisture absorbent outer surface and aninternal heating element.
 5. A credit card cleaning device as describedin claim 3 in which: said scrubbing means includes a pair of scrubbingrollers having their shafts disposed parallel and their peripheriestangentially juxtaposed on said path of travel, each of said rollershaving a moisture retaining outer surface, said rollers being in liquidcommunication with said reservoir of cleaning fluid and disposed toengage surfaces of a credit card propelled along said path of travel andscrubb said surfaces in a direction opposite the direction of travel ofsaid card.
 6. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 1 inwhich: said scrubbing chamber includes a pair of scrubbing rollershaving their shafts disposed parallel and their peripheries tangentiallyjuxtaposed on said path of travel, each of said rollers having amoisture retaining outer surface, said rollers being in liquidcommunication with said reservoir of cleaning fluid and disposed toengage surfaces of a credit card propelled along said path of travel andscrub said surfaces in a direction opposite the direction of travel ofsaid card; said drying chamber includes a pair of rollers having theirshafts disposed parallel and their peripheries tangentially juxtaposedon said path of travel, each of said rollers having a moisture absorbentouter surface and an internal heating element; said propelling meansincludes a pair of feed rollers disposed ahead of said scrubbing rollersalong said path of travel, said feed rollers having parallel shafts andtangentially juxtaposed peripheries disposed to engage a credit cardtherebetween and propel it along said path of travel and between saidscrubbing rollers, and further includes a pair of squeegee rollersdisposed after said scrubbing rollers and before said drying rollersalong said path of travel, said squeegee rollers having parallel shaftsand tangentially juxtaposed peripheries disposed to engage a credit cardtherebetween and propel it along said path of travel, and said squeegeerollers being separated from liquid communication with said reservoir ofcleaning solution and having surfaces which squeegee said cleaningsolution from the surfaces of said credit card; and said drive means aredrivingly interconnected with said scrubbing rollers, drying rollers,feed rollers and squeegee rollers and includes a motor and drive gears.7. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 1 in which: saidpath of travel is linear and inclined upwardly in a rearward direction.8. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 7 in which: saidcard delivery means incudes a chute pivotally mounted at its inner endadjacent the card receiving end of said path of travel defining meansand in said cleaning solution of said reservoir, and extending upwardlyand forwardly therefrom with its outermost end disposed above the levelof said cleaning solution in said reservoir.
 9. A credit card cleaningdevice as described in claim 7 in which: said card delivery meansincludes a chute pivotally mounted at its inner end adjacent the cardreceiving end of said path of travel defining means and in said cleaningsolution of said reservoir, and extending upwardly and forwardlytherefrom with its outermost end disposed above the level of saidcleaning solution in said reservoir, said chute having a float disposedin said cleaning solution and bouyed up thereby to normally maintainsaid chute in its upper position, and being pivotal downward against thebouyancy into alignment with said path of travel when a credit carddisposed in said chute is urged into alignment with said path of travelby engagement of its leading edge with said propelling means.
 10. Acredit card cleaning device as described in claim 7 in which: saidscrubbing chamber includes scrubbing means operatively associated withsaid path of travel defining means, said scrubbing means being disposedto engage and scrub surfaces of a credit card propelled along said pathof travel.
 11. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 7, inwhich: said drying chamber includes drying means operatively associatedwith said path of travel defining means, said drying means beingdisposed to engage and drY surfaces of a credit card propelled alongsaid path of travel.
 12. A credit card cleaning device as described inclaim 7 in which: said card delivery means includes a chute pivotallymounted at its inner end adjacent the card receiving end of said path oftravel defining means and in said cleaning solution of said reservoir,and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom with its outermost enddisposed above the level of said cleaning solution in said reservoir;said scrubbing chamber includes a pair of scrubbing rollers having theirshafts disposed parallel and their peripheries tangentially juxtaposedon said path of travel, each of said rollers having a moisture retainingouter surface, said rollers being in liquid communication with saidreservoir of cleaning fluid and disposed to engage surfaces of a creditcard propelled along said path of travel and scrub said surfaces in adirection opposite the direction of travel of said card; said dryingchamber includes a pair of rollers having their shafts disposed paralleland their peripheries tangentially juxtaposed on said path of travel,each of said rollers having a moisture absorbent outer surface and aninternal heating element; said propelling means includes a pair of feedrollers disposed ahead of said scrubbing rollers along said path oftravel, said feed rollers having parallel shafts and tangentiallyjuxtaposed peripheries disposed to engage a credit card therebetween andpropel it along said path of travel and between said scrubbing rollers,and further includes a pair of squeegee rollers disposed after saidscrubbing rollers and before said drying rollers along said path oftravel, said squeegee rollers having parallel shafts and tangentiallyjuxtaposed peripheries disposed to engage a credit card therebetween andpropel it along said path of travel, and said squeegee rollers beingseparated from liquid communication with said reservoir of cleaningsolution and having surfaces which squeegee said cleaning solution fromthe surfaces of said credit card; and said drive means are drivinglyinterconnected with said scrubbing rollers, drying rollers, feed rollersand squeegee rollers and includes a motor and drive gears.
 13. A creditcard cleaning device comprising: an elongated housing having a forwardend and a rearward end; a substantially vertical partition mounted insaid housing and disposed to divide said housing into a scrubbingcompartment adjacent said forward end and a drying compartment adjacentsaid rearward end; a card receiving slot in the forward end of saidhousing opening through said housing wall and into said scrubbingchamber; a reservoir in said scrubbing compartment containing cleaningliquid to a level below that of said card receiving slot; a pair of feedrollers mounted in said scrubbing compartment on parallel shaftsdisposed normal to said card receiving slot, said rollers having theirperipheries tangentially juxtaposed in a plane inclined upwardly in arearwardly direction and positioned below the level of the cleaningliquid in said reservoir; a pair of scrubbing rollers mounted in saidscrubbing compartrearward of said feed rollers a distance less than thelength of said card on parallel shafts disposed parallel to said feedroller shafts, said rollers having their peripheries tangentiallyjuxtaposed in said inclined plane with said line of juxtaposition belowthe level of the cleaning liquid in said reservoir; a pair of squeegeerollers mounted in said drying compartment adjacent said scrubbingcompartment and rearward of said scrubbing rollers a distance less thanthe length of said credit card on parallel shafts disposed parallel tosaid feed roller shafts, said rollers having their peripheriestangentially juxtaposed in said inclined plane with said line ofjuxtaposition above the level of the cleaning liquid in said reservoir;a pair of drying rollers mounted in said drying compartment rearward ofsaid sQueegee rollers a distance less than the length of said creditcard on parallel shafts disposed parallel to said feed roller shafts,said rollers having their peripheries tangentially juxtaposed in saidinclined plane, and having heating means operatively associatedtherewith; a card discharge member mounted in said housing rearward ofsaid drying rollers a distance less than the length of said credit cardand adjacent said inclined plane, said card discharge member beingdisposed to receive and retain a credit card passed through said dryingrollers; a card delivery chute in said scrubbing chamber with itsrearward end pivotally mounted adjacent said feed rollers and itsforward end extending upwardly and forwardly into alignment with saidcard receiving slot, said chute having its forward end normallysupported adjacent said slot by a float disposed in said cleaning liquidin said reservoir, and being pivotally movable downward into alignmentwith said inclined plane by forced alignment of a credit card disposedin said slot upon engagement of its leading edge with said feed rollers;and a drive motor mounted in said housing; drive interconnection meansdrivingly interconnecting said drive motor with at least one roller ofeach of said pairs of rollers, said drive interconnection means beingdisposed to rotate said pair of scrubbing rollers in an oppositedirection to the direction of rotation of said other pairs of rollers.14. A credit card cleaning device as described in claim 13 in which:said scrubbing rollers each have liquid retaining surface; said dryingrollers each have a liquid absorbent surface and internal heatingelements; and said drive interconnection means is disposed to drive saidscrubbing rollers at a greater peripheral speed than said other rollers.